I cc: Dead People

Mark RosewaterMonday, March 03, 2003

elcome to Zombie Week. This week we'll be exploring the zombie. Mindless brain eaters or misunderstood undead Americans? Let's take a closer look.

They Won't Let It Die

As I explained last week, I'm the flavor guy of the designers and developers. Also, I'm one of the more public faces in R&D. As such, years ago, I became the liaison between R&D and the various creature races. We don't talk about this much, but each of the creature types has a union to make sure that they're properly represented on cards.

You have to understand that the unions don't necessarily care if they're presented in a negative light (although a few, like soldiers, throw a fit whenever you do), they just want to make sure that they're not misrepresented. Different races care about very different issues. The angels, for example, are constantly bugging me about what artist are being used. (They think Matt Wilson lives to do nothing but illustrate them.) The dwarves are sensitive about height jokes. And the merfolk? Don't get me started. I have a pile of letters I haven't even gotten to yet.

But the biggest pain in the behind is the zombies. Why the zombies? Because the zombies feel they have an image problem. They're constantly feeling misrepresented, and thus their union lead, Ga'Aark, is constantly sending me letters. Today, I thought I'd share with you a few of these letters to show you the kinds of stuff I have to deal with every day. Note that I get letters from the creature reps after they see the preview of each set.

The first few letters, incidentally, were mailed to Richard Garfield as Richard had this lovely job before I joined Wizards of the Coast.

(For those of you that want to see the history of the zombies in a less colorful fashion, click here.)

Alpha

Dear Mr. Garfield,

I would like to start by introducing myself. My name is Ga'Aark (accent on the second syllable). I am the leader of Union for the Reanimated Undead, aka “The Zombies.” It is my responsibility to make sure that my people are fairly represented in your new game.

I have a number of issues that I strongly feel need to be addressed.

The term “zombie” – This is a very contentious point among my people. While a majority are okay with the term, a fervent minority feel that it connotes many of the negative stereotypes that we have worked so hard to overcome. When the average person hears "zombie," they equate it with mindless zombie. A creature solely at the whim of its reanimator. Admittedly, this is common among my people, but it is far from an absolute. Anyway, I'm officially okay with the term “zombie,” but I wanted you to know that it's an issue.

The ability of Scathe Zombies – Alpha has one zombie (I'll get to this point in a moment). One zombie! What do we get? Scathe Freakin' Zombie? For three mana, you get a 2/2. What does he do? Nothing. That's right, for three mana you get a vanilla 2/2. This isn't even one zombie. The title's plural. The artwork shows six zombies. Six zombies are 2/2? Have you not seen Dawn of the Dead?! Green has the exact same stats on a creature that costs one fewer mana. For two stupid grizzly bears. Do you know how fast six zombies would gut two grizzly bears? You do know that we're inhumanly strong?

The zombie lord – There are three lords in the set: the goblin lord, the merfolk lord and the zombie lord. All three give landwalking of the appropriate type. Fine. The goblin and merfolk lord both give +1/+1 to all their people. The zombie lord? Oh, he gives everyone regeneration. Your vanilla 2/2 can now regenerate. Lovely. Nice work, Garfield.

Scavenging Ghoul – Ghouls are undead creatures that eat the living. That would make them zombies. If you could just change the creature type of this fellow to zombie that would be much appreciated.

The number of zombies – Our people have a long history in the horror, science fiction, and most importantly, fantasy genres. For these years of dedication, how are we represented in Magic? We get three cards, only one of which is even labeled a zombie. And that card? See point number one above.

My reason for writing is that you seem like a good man. I'm sure these injustices were simply an oversight, one that can be corrected in upcoming sets.

Sincerely yours,

Arabian Nights

Dear Mr. Garfield,

Perhaps my tone was unnecessarily harsh in my last letter. I'm a simple undead man who is just looking out for his people. Imagine my surprise when I got a chance to see a preview of Magic's first expansion, Arabian Nights. I saw witches and sorceresses. Very dark. Djinns and efreets? That goes with the flavor of the set. Raiders? Ogres? Guardians? Someone has to start looking at the color wheel. That's all I have to say.

But the one that caused me to write to you today was a card called Khabal Ghoul. Remember Scavenging Ghoul? Yeah, well ghouls are still zombies. In two sets so far, zombies getting credit on the card is 1 for 4. Now, the ghouls are having a great time, but, to be frank, it's pissing the rank and file off. So please. Just make some zombies. And when you do make them, call them zombies.

Please.

Sincerely,

Antiquities

Dear Mr. Garfield,

Let me start by apologizing. Here I am--some unknown reanimated creature--bothering the creator of what is looking to be a classic game. It is clear by Antiquities that you (through the Antiquities design team) wanted to send me a message. I got it loud and clear. I mess with you, you mess with me.

I got it. From here on out, I'll be much nicer. So please, I am asking you as a poor cadaver to an influential designer, please, please can the zombies get some representation?

The Dark

Dear Mr. Garfield,

You answer to your players. I have to answer to a bunch of flesh eating constituents. If I don't get them representation, I'll be soon missing what's left of my internal organs.

For starters, thank you for making a second zombie. That said, The Drowned is not exactly the card my people were looking for. It's blue and its special ability is the exact thing the Zombie Lord gives to zombies. Not exactly advancing the zombie cause.

Have you ever read Frankenstein? The monster is an undead creature made up of parts of cadavers. I don't want to be presumptuous, but he sure sounds like a zombie.

And Eater of the Dead? Eater of the freakin' Dead?! He eats the dead. How the hell is he not a zombie?

Okay, I'm calm again. I'm not trying to cause problems. I just want some representation for my people.

I'm not kidding. They will eat me.

Sincerely,

Fallen Empires

Dear Mr. Garfield,

I now have no right foot. You know why? They ate it. Why did they do that? Because they're pissed. A whole expansion and the only black creatures are thrulls and clerics with one lone bunny-looking avatar thrown in.

Throw me a bone. I won't even ask for a bit of flesh to be attached.

Sincerely,

Ice Age

Dear Richard,

Thank you. Thank you. I still have the remainder of my left leg. I'm grateful for you to bless us with three zombies (Gangrenous Zombies, Legions of Lim-Dul, Lim-Dul's Cohort). You've more than doubled the amount in existence. So please when I continue with my letter, just remember how happy you've made me.

I like this Lim-Dul guy. I hope he'll be around for years to come.

Sincerely,

Homelands

Dear Richard,

I'm not sure whether I'm supposed to yell at you or thank you.

Eight sets and we still only have five zombies. You have to start working with me. My people are eying my leg again.

And where's Lim-Dul?

Sincerely,

Alliances

Dear Mr. Rosewater,

Richard has informed me that you're my new liaison. Welcome.

Why don't I start on a positive note? Thank you for the sixth and seventh representative of my people (Balduvian Dead and Feast or Famine). Balduvian Dead is by far the best zombie we've had to date. So, thank you.

That said, when Ice Age was released, I had hope. Lim-Dul the Necromancer. Three zombies in one set. Perhaps this could be a trend. Two sets later and we have a single extra zombie. The only zombie deck in existence needs to play three colors.

Help my people.

Sincerely,

Mirage

That said, I have issue with one of the cards. Zombie Mob. First off, I understand that my people have been known to eat a dead body or two, but this eat creatures out of the graveyard as a mechanic is getting a little offensive. I mean, we do eat other things. Like living creatures, for example.

Second, I'm concerned that zombies are always illustrated as part of a larger group. This reinforces the mindless label many people put on zombies and makes it seem like zombies are incapable of functioning on their own.

Food for thought.

Sincerely,

Visions

Dear Mr. Rosewater,

To explain my concern with the newest set, let me use a metaphor. You know how you drink some blood and then your adrenaline starts pumping and you just need more blood? Well, zombie cards are kind of like that. See, my people have gotten used to a certain standard in the last few expansions. And well, they didn't take kindly to you stiffing them. (Little tip – never stiff stiffs.)

My right leg now stops at my knee. A set or two more like this and you'll be dealing with a new representative. And mind you, one that might do a little more than write nasty letters.

For your own good (and mine), let's have some more zombies.

Sincerely,

Weatherlight

Dear Mark,

I hope my last letter wasn't perceived as a threat. I'm assuming the three zombies in Weatherlight (Barrow Ghoul, Bone Dancer, Zombie Scavengers) were an attempt on your part to make up for past injustices.

My only complaint is that once again all the zombie cards eat creatures out of the graveyard. Yeah, we eat the dead. I get it. Ha, ha. Why don't you just illustrate us all with our arms stretched out groaning “Brains… brains…?”

Exodus

That said, I have an issue with Plaguebearer. Several people in my group asked me to stress that we're uncomfortable with the fact that some of our kind carry disease. It's one of the many reasons we are socially shunned. If you could play that down on future cards it would be much appreciated.

Sincerely,

P.S. The graveyard's still there.

Urza's Saga

Urza's Legacy

Dear Mark,

What exactly does calling a zombie "Rank and File" mean? Are you trying to say we stink? Have you ever had to deal with rotting flesh? It's not easy. The last thing we need is to rip open the latest Magic expansion and see ourselves mocked about it.

Sincerely,

Starter '99

Dear Mark,

I don't normally write to you about Starter sets, but I had to respond to the new flavor text for Scathe Zombies (and by the way, you can't find a better zombie for the basic set?): “Luckily for them, it doesn't make much brains to slaughter and maim.”

I don't know where to begin. Are you calling us stupid? Do you think it's easy to slaughter and maim? Slaughtering and maiming takes a lot of mental energy. And what's with the brains crack? Don't you be showing us eating brains.

Sincerely,

Urza's Destiny

Dear Mark,

Do me a favor. Rent Night of the Living Dead. While you're staying up because you can't sleep, design some freakin' zombies!

Sincerely,

Unglued

Dear Mark,

I understand that this is a joke set, but Deadhead has upset a number of our members, especially Jerry. And Temp of the Damned? Do you know how hard it is for zombies to get part-time work? Really, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Sincerely,

Mercadian Masques

Dear Mark,

Three hundred and thirty cards and only two zombie cards (Deepwood Ghoul and Midnight Ritual). The sad thing is this is better than average for us. But, I'd like to dream of a day in Magic where the streets run wild with zombies (you know, like the real world).

Mark, work with me here. I know you're a fine designer. Make us some zombies we can be proud of.

Sincerely,

Nemesis

Dear Mark,

Do you even understand who I represent? These are not creatures you want to piss off. And they're not exactly that easy to reason with.

If the next expansion doesn't have a zombie, you might want to start worrying about your right foot.

Sincerely,

Prophecy

Dear Mark,

My people are hungry. For more zombie cards that is. While the two zombies in this set (Coffin Puppets and Whipstitched Zombie) will satiate them for a little while, I can tell you that some major changes need to be made soon. Our ranks grow every day. We will no longer sit idly by while we get dismissed set after set.

For both our sakes, talk to the powers that be. We need zombies and we need them now. Not one or two here or there. I'm talking about a real commitment.

Judgment

One of the things you learn as a zombie is that when you dig long enough, you begin unearthing interesting things. For example, please see the photo I've included with this letter. Now, I'm curious what would happen if this photo found its way onto one of the many Magic fan sites. I could already see some of the captions.

But this needed happen because I know that down deep, you have some great ideas for how to increase the zombie presence in Magic. At least for your sake, I hope you do.

Dead & Buried

As you can see, the zombies have managed to assert themselves over the years. I guess it's only apropriate that their number grows with time. Here in a handy chart is the zombies' presence in all of Magic's sets:

I hope this has given you a little better insight into the world of zombies.

Join me next week when I get interviewed by all of you. Remember if you have a question for that interview, send it to me at makingmagic@wizards.com. I have gotten a great response so far and expect next week's column to be quite interesting.